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Ebony and Ivory - My Generation is "Post-Racial"
As I listen to yet another "talking head" try to figure out the psyche of Obama voters and supporters, I am ironically reminded of a line from the movie Independence Day: "Hey, old guys!"
I am a 37 year old white female and I voted (and caucused) for Barack Obama in San Antonio, TX. One of the most talked about issues in the democratic primary thus far has been the new (big) D demographic supporting Obama. Breaking News for Howard Dean: My generation (and the next one) is a big part of the new (big) D and we are POST-RACIAL. Stop trying to define us with the old tools and trappings that defined the party.
If you ask the right questions you will find that your newest party members aren't voting for Obama because he is black. I have accepted and embraced the world as it is - bi-racial relationships, sexual individuality, successful women, single mothers, stay-at-home dads and other non-traditional families (to name a very few). I don't identify with identity politics. This is the reason that the pundits, talking heads, Ferraro's, etc. continue to be stupified - they still don't "get it."
One of my proudest and most memorable parenting moments was about 12 years ago. Our regular sitter was a 70-ish year old lady named Fran who we called "Granny Franny." When I got home from work my four-year-old daughter Megan was asleep and Fran recounted to me a conversation they had. Megan was telling Fran about her day at pre-school and was talking about her best friend Ebony. Fran asked Megan if her "friend Ebony was black?" Megan was stumped and finally replied "No, she's BROWN."
Today, my daughter is an amazing young woman and she is also a supporter of Barack Obama (though she can't vote yet). And head's up Hillary - she was completely stymied by the "Change you can Xerox" mention - that went over like sending a TELEX would.
Comments (7)
I'm a 29 year-old female and that's not what I see. As far as a NEW Big D , I would like to see more talk about issues that actually EFFECT how the varied demographic you described lives everyday!
We have lost our manufacturing base. There are fewer low-skill jobs. Families that in the '80's had jobs are now on disablity or on TANF. You have older people divorcing and still living together because Social Programs take more from couple's income that from a single person. The clients on TANF are forced to fill out Child Support forms on "absent parents" who are actually there in the home for the same reason!
The standard of living is in free-fall and we fiddle while it burns , so to speak!
Unlike the Reagan Era there are no Mom's to join the workforce to make ends meet!
This Country of ours is in deep trouble and pitting black against white , women against mean and "old guys" against the young REALLY isn't going to help matters!
March 12, 2008 8:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
As a 39 WM married to a 37 WF who have a 1yo son (WM) -- We couldn't agree with u more!
dot-dot-dot, dash-dash-dash, dot-dot-dot
Robb
March 12, 2008 8:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think post-racial is very cool. Post-Christian is also very cool. But I don't think it's cool to be so post-racial that you can't see who is using race and how they are using it. The hustlers are always with us. The Democratic Primary doesn't elect the President. You'll have to do some more work in the Fall to get that done. If Obama is the candidate, I suggest you send him a lot of money and travel to a swing state to help with his campaign. Better yet, move to a swing state and help turn it blue.
March 12, 2008 9:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm sorry, but I don't buy this for a second. I'm 41, and also voted for Obama. The educated, upper-middle class part of our generation may be somewhat post-racial, but the kids I grew up with in a lower middle class neighborhood in Queens, New York sure as heck aren't! Our generation, along with the Boomers may be a bit better than the current over 65s, but there are millions of racists among us, many quite overt and "old fashioned." I do sense a real improvement among the latest generation, basically those now under 25 -- if anyone approaches being "post-racial" it may be them. But I'm quite sure even they are hardly all sweetness and light Ebony and Ivory. Naivete is not going to help in November in a race in which race will be a *huge* factor.
March 12, 2008 9:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hi dedelste - I completely respect your perspective and I also know many people I grew up with who are racist. I was raised in the deep south in a rural area where caucasians were the minority, crime was high and education was (is) a travesty.
Later, I was fortunate enough to live in and be exposed to many other areas of the country where the racial divide wasn't the driving force of the community so maybe my experience is unique. I think our generation may be a hybrid, but I feel distinctly differently about race than the reports I hear in the MSM (as it pertains to Obama's supporters). This is what I was trying to draw attention to in my post.
Best - Ardanien
March 12, 2008 9:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hi dedelste - I completely respect your perspective and I also know many people I grew up with who are racist. My family was quite poor and I was raised in the deep south in a rural area where caucasians were the minority, crime was high and education was (is) a travesty.
Later, I was fortunate enough to live in and be exposed to many other areas of the country where the racial divide wasn't the driving force of the community so maybe my experience is unique. I think our generation may be a hybrid, but I feel distinctly differently about race than the reports I hear in the MSM (as it pertains to Obama's supporters). This is what I was trying to draw attention to in my post. I realize the implication may have come across as far more perfect than reality and that was not my intention.
Best - Ardanien
March 12, 2008 9:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm an 'old guy,' myself, and white, too. But I'm a strong Obama supporter. I really like the guy. He'll make a great president!
I know plenty of young (and old) racists, but the worst of them are not going to vote for a Democrat, anyway. And ALL of them absolutely HATE Hillary Clinton. But the odd thing is that most racists don't think they ARE racist. And a lot of them like the idea of voting for Obama just to demonstrate that they're color-blind (which they aren't, actually).
These things are complicated, and I don't know how they'll work out. Neither does anyone else. But I DO know that it's racist to pick a presidential candidate on the basis of his or her race, and it's sexist to pick a candidate on the basis of his or her gender. I'm not going to do it. I'm picking the best candidate, the person who will make the best president, and if the rest of the country can't get behind me, I'll get behind them and kick them all the way to the voting booth.
Go, Obama!
March 12, 2008 10:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
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